May News!

SPRING IN SWEDEN ’09 There is something about spring that lifts the soul and puts, well, a spring in my step! The trees just burst into fresh green leaves and the flowers shoot from the earth, birds are singing, flies are buzzing (OK it is not all nice!). It is a time where I just look forward to the future even more than usual; like spring declares with it fresh promises and a new hope. The past four months have been different in many ways, Here are some highlights:
January: Amsterdam I got to be a part of ‘UniQuip’ in Amsterdam, which is a week- long training event for YWAM staff. Over 90 people from many nations who work mostly in Europe came together for meetings and specific skill-focused workshops. For me the best part was to see again the bigger picture of YWAM internationally – in many ways it is like getting a can of spinach (which is a new burst of energy and inspiration for those who do not know the Popeye reference). The spectrum of work focus for the participants was broad, from a group of young people working in Afghanistan to others who work in training and administration. Yet all were there because of their heart to see peoples and nations lives transformed by God.

February till now: SFI Swedish for Immigrants Most of my time in the last months has been focused on learning Swedish. “Why? You may ask. Several reasons: Firstly, language is the key to people and their culture. Although most Swedes speak excellent English, I am living in their nation and want to connect and understand them on a deeper level. Secondly, I knew if I did not MAKE the time I would never learn the language (Exhibit A; four years in Norway, very little Norwegian). Thirdly, it is great to get my brain trained to learn languages which will help me in the future. Finally, it just makes life a lot easier when you can read what is written and understand what is spoken around you!

Overall I am really glad I have taken this time to go to school and see that it is helping me be more effective in what I do here in Sweden. There is also a great love for this nation and the people growing in me.

I have really enjoyed my time in SFI. I drive 20 minutes into Uddevalla to the government-run school. The school itself is free which is a HUGE blessing! There are over a hundred adult students, most are refugees but there are also a number of “love-immigrants” who are together to Swedes. It is really the case of the mission field coming to us as I have met people from Ethiopia, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Russia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Brazil, Poland, Thailand and the Philippines...plus more! It has been fun! Most rewarding for me has been to get to know the Muslims. Seeing woman in headscarves can summon stereotypes in our minds (or at least it did in mine!). But to meet these people, especially the women, has been an eye opener and a privilege. They are so warm, friendly and intelligent.

I am advancing in my Swedish and have definitely improved. At this stage I can understand quite a lot and have basic conversations about familiar subjects. However the more I learn the more I see how much MORE there is to learn, especially as I learn more and more grammar. Still, I am so encouraged to know that I CAN learn languages!

Coming-up: Next week I will go to the middle of Finland for another ‘UniQuip’. This time I will be a part of the leadership team and also will teach a workshop of “Learning Unleashed”. The topic is about creating classroom and teaching environments that are effective and relevant to the way people learn. I really love this topic and find it so exciting to see people realize that they can learn and the school can be an exciting place to be. The event is one week long but I will go a little earlier to help set up. The rest of the summer I will be working on base and with school related projects, with also a few weeks holiday (likely camping around Southern Sweden) somewhere in there.

From August onwards my focus will be on the upcoming School of Communication Foundations (SCF). I have 5 accepted students already and am very excited to see who will come. The school will run from September until December and you can read more about it here:
http://www.ywamrestenas.se/index.php?id=scf&L=0

In December I plan to come home (NZ home) and hope to be there for two months. YIPPPEEE!!!
Thank you for your friendship, love and support!
God Bless,
Helen

Prayer Points:
• For the UniQuip and my leading and teaching there.
• I step more into the areas that God has gifted me in.
• I clearly recognize the doors that God opens in front of me.
• There is an increase in financial support.
• A good end to my focused time in language learning.
• Good preparations for the SCF.

25 Random things about me

1. Movie soundtracks are some of my favorite CD’s to listen to
2. I do not like bananas – although I wish I did
3. Alaska is one of my favorite places in the world
4. I would love to write a novel and children’s books
5. If I am reading a good book I can lose track of time and be disorientated answering the phone.
6. If I get a new CD I can listen to it several times a day for a long time
7. I considered doing the training to do a solo parachute jump after I enjoyed my two tandem jumps a lot
8. I often chorography ice dancing routines in my head when I listen to music – even though I do not really ice skate myself
9. As a child I liked to act out the ‘evil’ characters in stories on tape (like Psalty the Singing Songbook tapes) because they were more dramatic
10. I think Agatha Christie is one of the greatest crime writers of all time
11. I did not like Coke Cola until I was a teenager – still not my first soda choice
12. After visiting the Pacific Island of Samoa when I was 18 wished I was not white, and felt at home with the Islanders
13. Loves the fact that I am left-handed
14. Really dislikes using the telephone and would much rather communicate over email or face-to-face
15. Thinks being brought up on a farm has helped me be a better missionary
16. Favorite TV show are crime-based like NCIS, Bones, Without A Trace
17. Wants to go to Prince Edward Island in Canada, just because of Anne of Green Gables
18. Is looking forward to the day when traveling home to NZ takes only a few hours (space travel!!)
19. LOVES to learn new practical things
20. I love to make people laugh – although wonder if people really find me funny or are just laughing at me laughing at myself….
21. Can easily switch driving on the left or right side of the road depending on the nation driving in
22. Would rather walk than ride a bike
23. Likes the fact that I have spent 5 weeks in East Greenland – not so many have done that
24. Would really love to travel to every continent in the world someday
25. Do not normally respond to these sorts of internet questions….but this one seemed like fun.

First Newsletter of 2009

2008 has finished its final minutes as I sit in my apartment in Sweden, looking at my Christmas tree which is leaning oh so slightly to the right.

It seems like a good time to reflect over the past year and muse a little on the year ahead. But oh gosh…you have properly already received 20 such newsletters in your inbox this past week, so how do I make this one more interesting to read….perhaps I shall take my inspiration from the movie I watched ….the 1951’s version of Scrooge.

Well in my own version I shall have no ghosts, Tiny Tims or ‘Bah Humbugs’….but a look back, at the present and future……(OK not much like Scrooge...but you read this far!!!)

Enjoy and Happy Holidays….

BACK; What a great year when I think about it. I started 2008 on the plane from NZ and spend the first six months in Switzerland. I loved being a student the Advanced Principles of Communication School and can see how I have grown in being a deeper thinker with a greater understanding in how God and His Word is so relevant for this World.

Next I co-lead the School of Communication Foundations (SCF), which as usual, was a good growing time in my leadership skills and character.

July saw me move to Restenäs Sweden...my new home for at least the next two years.

I have settled very fast and really feel at home. I am very much enjoying the people here and see there is potential for me to be challenged and grow in who I am and the ministry I work in.

The final three months of 2008 saw me lead the first SCF in Sweden. It ended up that I only had one other staff for the school which meant a lot of work for both of us. In the end though, while it was busy, the base staff helped a lot and the work load was quite manageable.

A week before the school started we had 12 possible students but in the end we only had 6 come. The others dropped out for various reasons like finances, visas and health issues. But in the end the 6 we had were so great that I cannot imagine the school without any of them.

This group of students were so easy to lead and get along with. Our classroom was often full of laughter and I am very grateful to them for being so willing to learn.

What makes this job of leading so worth while has often so little to do with me, but seeing the change in the students. To see each person gain more revelation about who God is and created them to be, and start to practice the skills of good communication is the reward.

An example has been one student who had even a physical change as she grasped a deeper understanding of God’s love for her and how He saw her as a beautiful woman.

On the night of public event for the school she had undergone a secret makeover and wowed the audience as she came out in a ball dress, hair cut and a new confidence in who she is. The atmosphere in the hall was electric and the standing ovation revealed not only the power of what God had done in this student, but for each person on the school. This positive influence has also been seen in the whole base as they really got behind myself and the school to support us, many times being blessed themselves.

I have also seen my own growth as a leader as this is the first school where I have not felt like I have ’failed’. Many times in the past I have had huge, rather unobtainable, expectations on myself. This has lead to disappointment when I felt like I kept letting others down by not being that perfect leader. In this school (while far from perfect!) I have been much more realistic in my self-expectations...which overall has meant a happier me, staff and students.

Leadership is a great facilitator of character growth!

PRESENT; At this very moment I am sitting at my kitchen table looking at the frosty view outside. The aforementioned Christmas tree has been thrown out the window because the days have marched into January while my unfinished newsletter mocks me for being lazy....the irony of being a communication school leader vs my lack of communication is not lost on me.

Honestly I am not sure what to think of 2009. The year stretches before me with new possibilities, and there is a sense that more of God’s promises will start to be fulfilled. The potential there is....but potential is only that...the capability and possibility of being or becoming. I really desire to step up and out to see this potential actually work itself out in reality.

It is in those day-to-day decisions on how to spend your time; which choices you make; how to relate to the people around you, that determines if that potential is achieved.

So for me that means stepping out more in leadership, using the God-given gifts to influence and serve those around me. I would love to travel and teach more this year as well as serve this base and Sweden in the best way I can.

I want this year to count towards God and His purposes!!

FUTURE; So what is this year 2009 shaping up to be….

I will continue to be on a team that works with YWAM staff training and University (UofN) development in Northern Europe. This also includes a newly developed role as the UofN point-person for Sweden—which is basically serving the Swedish YWAM bases.

I will travel to Amsterdam in January for two weeks to be apart of UniQuip—A YWAM staff training event.

February is when I will start to learn Swedish fulltime. I have learnt from past experience that language learning is vital...and will not happen unless I am very deliberate about it. So I will spend at least 2 months (possibly 5 months) in Swedish lessons in the closest town to the base.

I am looking forward to meeting the Swedish immigrants—properly mostly Muslims from the Middle East who will be in the class with me.

There is a possibility of attending a three week training conference in Germany in May. Also in May I have been invited to speak in a DTS in Bulgaria and will also teach at a training event in Finland.

In the summer I would love to go on a short outreach somewhere...not sure where or what yet. From August onwards I will be preparing fulltime for the next Communication School which will run from September 17th until 11th December.

Then my plans are to go home to NZ for two or three months from Christmas onwards!!!!

Thank you all for your friendship, prayers and support...I could not be doing what I am doing without you! Love Helen

…….2009…..Bring it on!!!

There are specific things you can pray for if I come to mind....

· Help in learning Swedish!

· Good connections with the immigrants in class.

· Wisdom to know how I can step up and make this year count.

· Finances for specific needs:

· New glasses—the protective layer is coming off so my view is a little foggy.

· Computer—My broken computer screen is getting worse and the dream of a MacBook still seems very far away.

· Travels—The cost of my ministry trips

SCF 2008

Here is a picture of a picture of my wonderful class. We are already 1/3 of the way though school with the first month going very fast. In the end we have six students with the other six who were accepted not coming for many reasons....but the six we have are great. It is fun to have so many different cultures...so many so I am the only native English-speaker.
I am doing well. I have only one staff so we are very very busy at times, but it has not been overwhelming. And that is even though I was teaching and leading the first two weeks.

It has become very beautiful here...autumn colours are out in full force, and some days are very beautiful and clear days. I really enjoy being at this base and am getting to know the people. Having a car makes a big difference to feel free to get out and off the base.

Evening Photos

Weekend in the Norwegian Mountains

I got to have a great relaxing weekend recently with my friend Turid when we went to a cabin/hut in 4 hours north of Oslo. Now the hut to Norwegians is as a bach is to Kiwis so it is like a well setup little house (without electricity or hot water mind you). We took Turid's dog and her parents dog with us and they pulled us up the hills. They also tried to pull us down the hills but that was not as fun.
Always it was a nice relaxing time of chatting, reading, sleeping in and a few hikes....good times!

Turid and VictorBelinda

A farmers hut we found on a hikeThe Cabin

Sweden

Here is an update which is basically the same as my newsletter info....but hey! It is still news!

Greetings from my new home in Sweden. It is a nice feeling to know that I will be in one place for a while. I have committed to work with the YWAM Restenäs base for two years in starting the School of Communication Foundations (SCF) and continuing to work with the University of the Nations development team.

The work is continuing to stretch me and refine my skills to be used effectively. I expect I will be working even more with staff development and teaching. I am really enjoying to teach but I do keep thinking that all this teaching stuff should be left to the older experienced people…then I realize that in 1 year and one month I will be 35 years old….. how did that happen???!!!! Please check out my web pages for my latest photos.

Odds and Ends: I ended my time in Central Europe with a road trip to the French Rivera with 3 friends. We stayed in an amazing campsite high on the hills over looking the Sea. In our short weekend we saw Cannes, Nice and Monaco which was all great. It was a busy time and a long drive but fun! See my flickr site for photos.

It was also great to have Mum and Dad visit for a few days near the end of their European Trip (I saw them in Switzerland as well). It was a blessing for them to see my new base….and also buy a car!! They will use the car when they come back here next year…in the meantime I get to use it! I have not had a car for 8 years now so it is a HUGE blessing. I feel like I have a greater opportunity now to get off the base and integrate more into society and have more of ‘life’; avoiding the danger of just been stuck in the YWAM environment. This would include taking Swedish lessons next year.

SCF 2008 in Sweden: And that brings us to the rest of this year. I am now preparing for the first SCF in Restenäs. So far we have 10 applications and do not think we will accept many more for this year. I only have one staff which will make my job harder; but it is doable. Have a look at the www.ywamrestenas.se to see more of the base and read about the SCF.

I believe this year will be one where I will stay around Sweden (rather than travel too much) which I think will be a good thing. I can see now that my ministry focus is coming more to a point. Now I want to zero in with the skills I have into areas of education and training. There may even be some doors opening on the horizon in teacher training in developing nations. I really never saw myself going back to preschool so it is interesting to see how these new opportunities will form.

Thank you all for your love and support! While it is easy for me to become a very ’here and now’ person, I never forget my friends and family around the world. If you want to know more specifics about what I am doing then email! Until next time….